haps, for the last time, those of my brethren in arms appropriately termed by you, "the remnant of that gallant corps the Tombigby Volunteers.' Circumstances deprive me of the pleasure of being with you in person on this occasion, and of enjoying the proud satisfaction of seeing you bestow upon my late comrades the only reward which they ever could have expected, the only incentive worthy of their conduct: the gratitude of their fellow citizens, the approval of those whom they especially represented in their country's service, the "well done" of those whose good name was entrusted to their keeping. Through you gentlemen of the committee, permit me to return my thanks to your fellow citizens of Lowndes County, for their flattering attention, and to express the sincere regret I feel at not having been able to accept their invitation. To you for the kind and most pleasing terms in which you have addressed me, I am deeply obliged. With sincerest regard I remain To Jos. B. Cobb, and others. JEFFERSON DAVIS. Jefferson Davis to James K. Polk. (From Vicksburg Weekly Whig, October 20, 1847.) To the President: Warren County, Miss., June 20, 1847. My Dear Sir-Your very kind and complimentary letter of the 19th May last, was received in New Orleans, together with the commission to which you therein referred. To be esteemed by you as one whose services entitled him to promotion, is to me a source of the highest gratification; which will remain to me undiminished, though my opinions compel me to decline the proffered honor. I will this day address to the Adjutant-General of the U. S. Army, an official note informing him, that the commission has been received, and is declined. To you I wish to give an explanation, being too sensibly affected by your expression of honorable estimation and friendly regard, willingly to run any hazard of a misapprehension of the motives which have decided my course. You inform me that my command will consist of volunteers. I still entertain the opinion expressed by me, as a member of Congress, in May and June, 1846, that the "volunteers" are militia. As such they have a constitutional right to be under the immediate command of officers appointed by State authority; and this I think is violated by any permanent organization made after they have passed into the service of the United States; by which they lose their distinctive character of State troops, become part of a new formation, disciplined by, corresponding and only recognised through the head, which the federal government has set over them. Such I consider the organization of Volunteer regiments into Brigades, under Brigadiers appointed by the President, as provided for in the law of June, 1846; and entertaining this opinion, my decision, as stated to you was the necessary result. For the gratifying notice you have taken of myself and the regiment I had the honor to command; for the distinction you have been pleased to confer upon me by this unsolicited appointment; and for the kind solicitude you express for my welfare, receive, Sir, my sincerest thanks. Very truly, your friend, JEFFERSON DAVIS. Jefferson Davis to W. L. Marcy. (From Mississippi Free Trader, Aug. 4, 1847.) Warrenton, Mississippi, June 29, 1847. Hon. W. L. Marcy, Secretary of War: Sir-Several companies have been raised in this State, composed partly of the men of the Regiment I commanded in Mexico. Applications have been made to me for information as to the mode by which they can be received into General Taylor's army, and obtain transportation thither. The greater part of them prefer to serve as mounted men; they are willing to engage for the war, and if authority were given, I have no doubt would soon fill up the incomplete Regiment called from Texas. I believe it would require but a short time to raise another Rifle Regiment to take the place of that lately disbanded, if this be desirable. Those who have spoken to me attach great importance to the difference between volunteers as originally called out, and the organization provided for those, who after the expiration of their twelve months term should re-engage, because the first class have the right of electing their own officers whenever vacancies occur. Please inform me whether companies or a battalion or a regiment of Riflemen will be received; if so, will they be al lowed to go out as mounted men, or will they be received as foot under the act of May 13, 1846. Very respectfully, Your most Obed't serv't, (Signed) JEFFERSON DAVIS. Jefferson Davis to Stephen Cocke.1 (From Mississippi Department of Archives and History.) Chancellor Cocke, Brierfield, Mi. 15th July 1847. Dear Sir, When we parted I hoped by this date to have been able to leave home free from the inconvenience and disagreeable exposure of hopping on crutches. My foot has not improved much and though just now its appearance is flattering I have been so often disappointed that I await further evidence. I thank you for the interest you take in the appointment of U. S. Senator and am really obliged to Gov. Brown for feelings which by others I had been led to believe he did not entertain towards me. With the hope that I will soon have the pleasure of seeing you I am as ever very sincerely your friend Jeffrn. Davis. W. L. Marcy to Jefferson Davis. (From Mississippi Free Trader, Aug. 4, 1847.) War Department, July 16, 1847. Sir: I am directed by the President to inform you, in reply to your letter of the 26th ultimo, that he will accept of such a Battalion of Riflemen as you suggest, to serve during the war, to be raised in the State of Mississippi. You indicate the employment of them under Major General Taylor, but it is probable that the more active operations will be with the column under the command of Maj. Gen. Scott, and their services may Chancellor Mississippi Superior Court of Chancery from 1846 to 1853. * Col. Jefferson Davis and his regiment of Mississippi Riflemen saved the army of General Taylor from defeat at the battle of Buena Vista. He was painfully wounded in the foot during the engagement; and after returning to his plantation at "Brierfield" in June 1847 he was disabled for some time. It was during this period that he was appointed United States Senator from Mississippi by Governor Brown. be required in connection with that column. Presuming that they will prefer the most active service, and that a different destination from that mentioned by you will not impede the raising of it, I shall send forthwith a request to the Governor to aid in the organization thereof. In regard to your suggestion that the Battalion should be mounted, I would remark that the mounted force already called out is deemed to be sufficient for the service which may be required of that description of force, and it is not now proposed to add to their number. Very respectfully, your obd't serv't, Col. Jefferson Davis, Warrenton, Mississippi. Jefferson Davis to John Jenkins. (From Vicksburg Sentinel, August 18, 1847.) John Jenkins, Esq. Brierfield, Mississippi. 4th August, 1847. Dear Sir: I send you herewith the correspondence between the Secretary of War and our Governor, in relation to the arms of the first Mississippi Rifles. One of the letters passed out of my possession at New Orleans, to satisfy the United States Mustering officer of our right to retain the Rifles, and has been recently recovered, or I should have presented this correspondence to you earlier, and asked its insertion in your paper. The prompt and early attention of Gov. Brown to a feeling so deep in our Regiment, has received as it deserved, our especial thanks; and it has seemed to me worthy of being made public. Very respectfully, Your friend, &c., A. G. Brown to W. L. Marcy. (From Vicksburg Sentinel, August 18, 1847.) Executive Chamber, Jackson, Mi., 20th April, 1847. Hon. Wm. L. Marcy, Secretary of War. Sir: A number of the volunteers in the first Regiment from this State have expressed a very natural anxiety to be allowed to retain the Arms they have borne in Mexico. The attachment which a soldier feels for his gun may easily be imagined. The Mississippians of the first regiment will return home in the course of a few weeks. The reluctance which many of them have expressed, and all of them feel to giving up their guns, induces me to request an order that they be allowed to retain them. If this request cannot be granted, I then request that the arms in the hands of the volunteers belonging to the first Mississippi Regiment may be issued to this State as a part of the quota due her, in which event the State will present them to the volunteers. The Regiment will feel gratified, as well as the citizens of Mississippi generally, if a piece of ordnance taken at Monterey, were presented to the volunteers on their return home as a trophy of that victory, which the Regiment from our State assisted in achieving. Very Respectfully, Your obedient servant, W. L. Marcy to A. G. Brown. (From Vicksburg Sentinel, August 18, 1847.) War Department, Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, representing the anxiety felt by a number of the volunteers in the first Regiment from your State to retain the arms they have borne in Mexico, and requesting that an order might be issued to that effect. In answer, I regret to say that the Department has no power to dispose of the public property confided to its charge, in the way here proposed. But with a view to gratify the natural desire of the volunteers as far as may be consistently done, the Department takes pleasure in adopting the suggestion of your Excellency, and has accordingly directed that the arms in the hands of the volunteers belonging to the first Mississippi Regiment be issued to the State as a part of her quota under the act of 1808, agreeably to the report of the Ordnance Department herewith enclosed. It would give me sincere pleasure to comply with your request in relation to presenting to the gallant Mississippi Volunteers a portion of the trophies won at Monterey, but I regret that I have not the right to dispose of them, even to those by whose |